One of the greatest joys as an author is having your first novel get published. However, this is also an incredibly stressful time as your future career can depend on how well that first book does in sales. (Note: I’m speaking more of traditionally published novels here, not indie/self-published books.)
Since March 2020, much of the world has shut down due to SARS-COV2 (AKA “novel coronavirus”). This means new authors have an even bigger challenge in getting the word out about their books, meeting with readers, and establishing their fan base.
If you love to read science fiction and/or fantasy, please consider supporting these new authors by purchasing a copy of their first book. As a fan, you’re always looking to discover a new favorite author, right? Maybe you’ll find the next one here!
** Please note: this is a living list that I’m adding to as I learn about more 2020 debuts. Let me know if you spot any errors or omissions. Also, I am keeping this list to the science fiction & fantasy genres because that’s what my readership looks for, and what I personally enjoy reading.
Authors: if you’re not on this list and wish to be - or if you are and want me to remove your entry - please send me a message!
Nadia Afifi, The Sentient
Tiffani Angus, Threading the Labyrinth
Luke Arnold, The Last Smile in Sunder City
Darcie Little Badger, Elatsoe
Dan Berison, Cubes: Rising
Gautam Bhatia, The Wall
Sarah Bond, Gravity’s Heir
Shelly Campbell, Under the Lesser Moon
M.A. Carrick, The Mask of Mirrors
Doug Engstrom, Corporate Gunslinger
J.M. Evenson, Dalya and the Magic Ink Bottle (middle grade)
Illimani Ferreira, Terminal 3
A.J. Fitzwater, The Voyages of Cinrak the Dapper (anthology)
A.J. Fitzwater, No Man’s Land
Chloe Gong, These Violent Delights
R.W.W. Greene, The Light Years
Dan Hanks, Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire
Essa Hansen, Nophek Gloss
Celeste Harte, Conquest
Crystal Huff (editor), Recognize Fascism (anthology)
Jordan Ifueko, Raybearer
Simon Jimenez, The Vanished Birds
Micaiah Johnson, The Space Between Worlds
Lavanya Lakshminarayan, Analog/Virtual (anthology)
A.K. Larkwood, The Unspoken Name
C.J. Lavigne, In Veritas
Corry L. Lee, Weave the Lightning
EeLeen Lee, Liquid Crystal Nightingale
R.B. Lemberg, The Four Profound Weaves (novella)
Devin Madson, We Ride the Storm
Callum McSorley, Burying the Dragon
Premee Mohamed, Beneath the Rising
John P. Murphy, Red Noise
Karen Osborne, Architects of Memory
Chris Panatier, The Phlebotomist
Katy Rose Pool, There Will Come A Darkness
Aleksandra Ross, Don’t Call the Wolf
Wayne Santos, The Chimera Code
Constance Sayers, A Witch in Time
Ginger Smith, The Rush’s Edge
Andrea G. Stewart, The Bone Shard Daughter
Lif Strand, Evolution Device
Karah Sutton, A Wolf for a Spell (middle grade)
Jeremy Szal, Stormblood
K.M. Szpara, Docile
Shvetha Thakrar, Star Daughter
Valerie Valdes, Chilling Effect
Marie Vibbert, Galactic Hellcats
K.S. Villoso, The Wolf of Oren-Yaro
A.J. Vrana, The Hollow Gods
Juliette Wade, Mazes of Power
Corey J. White, Repo Virtual
E. Lily Yu, On Fragile Waves